ATLANTA FALCONS

ATLANTA FALCONS
2002 record: 9-7-1.
Coach: Dan Reeves.
Key additions: CB Bryan Scott (D-2), WR Peerless Price (T-Bills), CB Tyrone Williams (UFA-Packers), LB Twan Russell (released-Dolphins), KR MarTay Jenkins (released-Cards).
Key losses: CB Ashley Ambrose (released-Saints), WR Shawn Jefferson (released), DT Shane Dronett (released), FB Bob Christian (retired), T Michael Thompson (T-Seahawks).
Profile: Mike Vick is lost for perhaps six games with a broken leg, and there are no guarantees how fit he will be, physically or psychologically, when he returns. He is replaced by Doug Johnson, who won't be lacking for confidence. The addition of Price gives Johnson an elite downfield target. Falcons are still trying to determine whether to go with Warrick Dunn or T.J. Duckett or a combination at running back.
Key stat: Vick scored eight rushing touchdowns.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at Dallas4:15
Sept. 14 -- Washington1
Sept. 21 -- Tampa Bay1
Sept. 28 -- at Carolina1
Oct. 5 -- Minnesota1
Oct. 13 -- at St. Louis9
Oct. 19 -- New Orleans1
Oct. 26 -- Bye
Nov. 2 -- Philadelphia4:15
Nov. 9 -- at New York Giants1
Nov. 16 -- at New Orleans1
Nov. 23 -- Tennessee4:15
Nov. 30 -- at Houston1
Dec. 7 -- Carolina8:30
Dec. 14 -- at Indianapolis1
Dec. 20 -- at Tampa Bay1:30
Dec. 28 -- Jacksonville1
CAROLINA PANTHERS
2002 record: 7-9.
Coach: John Fox.
Key additions: T Jordan Gross (D-1), C Bruce Nelson (D-2), TE Mike Seidman (D-3), DB Ricky Manning (D-3), G Doug Brzezinski (UFA-Eagles), RB Stephen Davis (released-Redskins), QB Jack Delhomme (UFA-Saints), LB Greg Favors (UFA-Bills).
Key losses: TE Wesley Walls (released), RB Lamar Smith (released), DT Sean Gilbert (released), LB Hannibal Navies (UFA-Packers), CB Rashard Anderson (suspended-drug test), LB Mark Fields (illness-out for season), WR Kevin Dyson (Injured-out for season) .
Profile: This could be a surprise team. Fox made rapid strides with his defense, and the front office has picked up a key offensive player in Davis. Delhomme will compete with Rodney Peete for the starting job, but they still need a young quarterback. Adding Davis gives them perhaps the best running back in club history, and now they have DE Julius Peppers back. Special teams are among the NFL's best. With the right wideout, they've got playoff potential.
Key stat: DE Julius Peppers had 12 sacks, despite being suspended the last four games.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- Jacksonville1
Sept. 14 -- at Tampa Bay4:05
Sept. 21 -- Bye
Sept. 28 -- Atlanta1
Oct. 5 -- New Orleans1
Oct. 12 -- at Indianapolis1
Oct. 19 -- Tennessee1
Oct. 26 -- at New Orleans1
Nov. 2 -- at Houston1
Nov. 9 -- Tampa Bay1
Nov. 16 -- Washington1
Nov. 23 -- at Dallas1
Nov. 30 -- Philadelphia1
Dec. 7 -- at Atlanta8:30
Dec. 14 -- at Arizona4:15
Dec. 21 -- Detroit1
Dec. 28 -- at New York Giants4:05
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2002 record: 9-7.
Coach: Jim Haslett.
Key additions: DT Johnathan Sullivan (D-1), T Jon Stinchcomb (D-2), LB Cie Grant (D-3), CB Ashley Ambrose (released-Falcons), P Mitch Berger (UFA-Rams), T Wayne Gandy (UFA-Steelers), S Tebucky Jones (T-Patriots).
Key losses: QB Jack Delhomme (UFA-Panthers), P Toby Gowin (UFA-Cowboys), LB Charlie Clemons (UFA-Texans), T Kyle Turley (T-Rams), S Sammy Knight (UFA-Dolphins), DT Norman Hand (T-Seahawks).
Profile: And you thought the Dolphins had bad Decembers and Januarys? For the second year in a row, the Saints staggered to the finish line and this time it cost them the playoffs. With three picks in the first 54 choices, they added some defensive help and Ambrose is counted on to give the pass-rush precious seconds to get to the quarterback. WR Joe Horn and RB Deuce McAllister provide punch. WR Donte Stallworth is ready to break out.
Key stat: Three kick/punt returns for TDs.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at Seattle4:15
Sept. 14 -- Houston1
Sept. 21 -- at Tennessee1
Sept. 28 -- Indianapolis8:30
Oct. 5 -- at Carolina1
Oct. 12 -- Chicago1
Oct. 19 -- at Atlanta1
Oct. 26 -- Carolina1
Nov. 2 -- at Tampa Bay1
Nov. 9 -- Bye
Nov. 16 -- Atlanta1
Nov. 23 -- at Philadelphia1
Nov. 30 -- at Washington4:05
Dec. 7 -- Tampa Bay1
Dec. 14 -- New York Giants8:30
Dec. 21 -- at Jacksonville1
Dec. 28 -- Dallas1
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
2002 record: 12-4.
Coach: Jon Gruden.
Key additions: DE Dewayne White (D-2), QB Chris Simms (D-3), T/G Jason Whittle (UFA-Giants), C John Wade (UFA-Jaguars), QB Jim Miller (UFA-Bears), LB Dwayne Rudd (released-Browns), RB Thomas Jones (T-Cardinals).
Key losses: C Jeff Christy (released), S Dexter Jackson (UFA-Cardinals), LB Al Singleton (UFA-Cowboys), QB Rob Johnson (UFA-Redskins).
Profile: Super Bowl champs lost a couple of starters in free agency, but they're deep on defense. Offensively, they had a great December, and QB Brad Johnson returns his sensible, take-care-of-the-ball philosophy for a rerun in 2003. The secondary was broken up by the loss of Jackson, but with another quick linebacker (Rudd), they're still strong defensively. They don't appear strong enough in the running game, and RB Michael Pittman has had problems with the law.
Key stat: Johnson had only one interception in his last six regular-season games.
Schedule:
Sept. 8 -- at Philadelphia9
Sept. 14 -- Carolina4:05
Sept. 21 -- at Atlanta1
Sept. 28 -- Bye
Oct. 6 -- Indianapolis9
Oct. 12 -- at Washington1
Oct. 19 -- at San Francisco4:15
Oct. 26 -- Dallas1
Nov. 2 -- New Orleans1
Nov. 9 -- at Carolina1:00
Nov. 16 -- Green Bay4:15
Nov. 24 -- New York Giants9
Nov. 30 -- at Jacksonville8:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 -- at New Orleans1
Dec. 14 -- Houston1
Dec. 20 -- Atlanta1:30
Dec. 28 -- at Tennessee1
-- South Florida Sun Sentinel